Facilitating integration of different computer data systems

Abstract

A method for facilitating integration of multiple computer data systems may include source-target mapping between first and second data sources of the computer data systems. The method includes mapping, by a user, data fields from the first computer data source of the first computer data system to system-neutral business terms of an object-oriented abstraction layer; mapping, by a user, data fields from the second computer data source of the second computer data system to system-neutral business terms of the object-oriented abstraction layer; and saving the mappings in a computer-readable medium; wherein the object-oriented abstraction layer further comprises business documents, each business document comprising one or more of the business terms of the object-oriented abstraction layer.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A method for use in integrating multiple computer data systems of third parties, comprising the steps of:
 (a) for a particular one of the third parties,
 (i) providing a platform having predefined content, 
 (ii) enabling or disabling, by a user, elements of the predefined content for the system integration of the particular third party, 
 (iii) adding, by a user, additional content to the platform for the system integration of the particular third party, and 
 (iv) providing a relational specification between the computer data systems using the platform for integration of the computer data systems of the particular third party; and 
   (b) for another one of the third parties,
 (i) providing the same platform having the same predefined content, 
 (ii) enabling or disabling, by a user, elements of the predefined content for the system integration of the other third party, 
 (iii) adding, by a user, additional content to the platform for the system integration of the other third party, and 
 (iv) providing a relational specification between the computer data systems for integration of the computer data systems of the other third party. 
   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein step (a)(iv) of providing comprises displaying the relational specification on a display. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein step (a)(iv) of providing the relational specification comprises printing the relational specification. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein step (a)(iv) of providing the relational specification comprises saving the relational specification to a computer-readable medium. 
   
   
       25 . A method for facilitating integration of multiple computer data systems, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a platform having predefined content, the predefined content including predefined business terms and logical documents comprised of one or more of the predefined business terms,   (b) adding, by a user, additional content to the platform, such additional content including new business terms and new logical documents comprised of one or more of the predefined business terms and the new business terms, and   (c) mapping, by a user, data fields from each of the computer data systems to the business terms of the platform.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of saving, by the user, the mappings performed in said step (c) to a computer-readable medium. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of providing a relational specification between the computer data systems using the platform for integration of the computer data systems. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of providing the relational specification comprises displaying the relational specification on a display. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of providing the relational specification comprises printing the relational specification. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of providing the relational specification comprises saving the relational specification to a computer-readable medium. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the additional content includes an alias that is associated with predefined content. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of modifying the predefined content. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of modifying, by a user, the additional content. 
   
   
       34 . A method for facilitating integration of multiple computer data systems, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing, to a user, a platform having predefined content, the predefined content including predefined business terms and logical documents comprised of one or more of the predefined business terms,   (b) allowing the user to add additional content to the platform, such additional content including new business terms and new logical documents comprised of one or more of the predefined business terms and the new business terms, and   (c) allowing the user to map data fields from each of the computer data systems to the business terms of the platform.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the step of saving the mappings performed in said step (c) to a computer-readable medium. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the step of providing a relational specification between the computer data systems using the platform for integration of the computer data systems. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of providing the relational specification comprises displaying the relational specification on a display. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the step of providing the relational specification comprises saving the relational specification to a computer-readable medium. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the additional content includes an alias that is associated with predefined content. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the step of allowing the user to modify the predefined content.